NESTS AND EGGS OF HONEY-EATERS. 643 
are usually a pair, although I possess records of having taken two 
nests with each three eggs. I was able to verify Gilbert’s cute 
observation, that the nests of the Wattle-bird in Western Aus- 
tralia were usually built without lining. 
In the years 1853-60, I am told, Wattle-birds were very 
plentiful at Frenchmen’s Amphitheatre, Warrnambool, and other 
places in the western district of Victoria, where seventy birds might 
be easily shot in a morning. 
Mr. J. Sommers, Cheltenham, reported that he had found the 
single egg of the Pallid Cuckoo in a Wattle-bird’s nest, 28—-9—95. 
The following ‘‘snake yarn” is a clipping from a Melbourne 
newspaper :—‘‘Some years ago, while in Pyalong, my attention 
was attracted by the noise and fluttering of a Wattle-bird. I 
was surprised to see a snake up a Wattle-tree, in the act of swal- 
lowing a fully-feathered bird. His body was balanced on the 
limbs near the nest, which was 12 ft. or 13 ft. from the ground. 
The bird was slimed all over, and with great effort the snake was 
trying to gulp it down head first. I watched the process for some 
time, and then despatched the snake. The bird was dead. Near 
the log close by were some feathers (same sort), so I guess the 
reptile swallowed two birds. The snake was about 4ft. long; it 
had a thick neck, and was dark in colour.” 
The breeding months include August to December, but princi- 
pally September and October. 
ACANTHOCHERA INAURIS, Gould. 
“ Yellow-wattled Bird.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 54. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 263. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Gould, Bds. of Austr. Hdbk., 
vol. i, p. 537 (1865). North, Cat. Nests and Eggs, Austn. Mus., 
p. 214 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution.—Tasmania and King Island. 
Nest.—Open, flat; composed of moderately-sized twigs and 
grasses ; lined with wool or other soft material ; usually situated 
in a low thick tree. Dimensions over all various, from 7 to 10 
inches, depth about 3 inches. 
Lygs.—Clutch, 2-3 ; lengthened in form; texture fine ; surface 
glossy ; colour, pinkish-buff or salmon-tint, moderately but boldly 
marked with blotches and spots of reddish-brown or chestnut and 
dull purplish-grey, the majority of the markings being on or about 
the apex. Dimensions in inches of odd examples—(1) 1°52 x -98 ; 
(2) 1:4 x °9. 
Observations.— During three excursions to the different groups 
of islands in Bass Straits I noticed this fine large Honey-eater on 
King Island only ; therefore, excepting that island, we may infer 
